A Chicago man was charged yesterday with kidnapping a Hyde Park kindergartner following an incident at 5335 S. Kenwood Ave on the city’s South Side. According to reports, 67 year-old William Bledsoe of the 7600 block of South Honore St. allegedly detained a young boy for several hours last Tuesday. The boy was allegedly detained between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. during the school day according to a Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman. The boy is reportedly a student at Murray Language Academy. He was taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital following the incident.
Police are now investigating whether Bledsoe, an employee of the Jewels Bus Company in the Roseland neighborhood, sexually assaulted the young boy while he was being held against his will. Bledsoe has yet to be charged with sexual assault. The bus was towed and taken as evidence in an ongoing investigation by the Chicago Police Special Investigations Unit. For more information on the incident follow this link.
If the young boy was sexually abused, he may have civil claims against both the bus driver and also the institutions responsible for his employment. The Klest Law Firm has over twenty nine years of experience advocating on behalf of childhood sexual abuse victims in the State of Illinois. If you have any questions regarding sexual abuse victims’ rights or would otherwise like to speak to an attorney, please click here.